By Abigail Headley
“I give all glory to God for the great things He has done in my life and for allowing me to recognize the potential I had hidden inside of me. As they say your present situation does not determine your future and I am a living testimony of this. It’s always better to trust, pray and wait and He will definitely come through. If He can do it for me then He’s able to do it for anybody else.”
These are the words of 27-year-old Colleen Osborne, a resilient young woman who has just embarked on her entrepreneurial journey by starting her own Christmas Cleaning Business. Osborne is not your average entrepreneur. Hers is an uplifting story, filled with inspiration, determination, faith, and recognizing hidden potential.
The mother of three told Stabroek News that the idea for her business came to her during a period of difficulty and uncertainty. As a result of her lack of employment and the fact that she had a lot of spare time on her hands, she had a strong desire to help other people and start her own business. As the holiday season drew near, she came to the realisation that launching her own Christmas Cleaning Business would not only satisfy her desire for personal fulfilment but also deliver a community requirement.
“Being out of a job at the moment, having free time, and having the heart to assist people, also being interested in becoming an entrepreneur [are what inspired me] … I knew that starting my own Christmas Cleaning Business would give me all-round satisfaction,” she explained.
Osborne’s primary objective throughout this holiday season is to differentiate herself from other house cleaning services that are currently in operation. One of the ways in which she’s doing this is by maintaining her prices at a reasonable level, thus enabling consumers from all walks of life to be able to afford her services. This is in contrast to the widespread practice among businesses to raise their costs during this busy season.
“Customer satisfaction is the most important thing for me,” she said while adding, “Everyone deserves a clean and joyful home during the holiday season”.
What truly sets Osborne apart from others are the old-time methods and hacks she incorporates into her cleaning services. Growing up with strict granny and aunts who imparted their wisdom through traditional house cleaning techniques, Osborne now brings that knowledge to her clients. She uses these time-tested practices to ensure a thorough and effective cleaning experience.
Osborne’s newly embarked upon journey is not altogether devoid of difficulties. While she had a solid foundation in cleaning, thanks to her upbringing, transportation has proven to be a major hurdle. However, her determination and work ethic are shining through. “I plan to overcome this challenge by leaving home earlier than expected to get to my required destination on time,” she said.
In order to market her business, Osborne has employed the use of a variety of channels. She explained that in addition to the initial flyer which she has been circulating, she has leveraged social media channels such as Facebook and WhatsApp in order to build interest and get bookings for cleaning services.
“I’ve posted write-ups on my regular Facebook timeline as well as on WhatsApp to promote my Christmas House Cleaning Services, which have generated much interest/cleaning appointments/potential appointments,” she said.
She added that so far it has been an overwhelming experience for her to have such a good response and gratitude from her customers.
Eager to provide a comprehensive service, Osborne expanded her offerings beyond just house cleaning. She also assists with home décor, food preparations, ironing of curtains, and even doing laundry. This also sets her apart from other businesses similar to her own.
Recognizing the increased demands of the Christmas season, Osborne plans on employing like-minded and hardworking individuals as staff to ensure that work is completed efficiently and to the satisfaction of her clients.
When it comes to ensuring that customers are satisfied, she is of the opinion that feedback is quite important. Her appreciation for all critiques and comments stems from the fact that they enable her to make the required modifications and strive for greatness more effectively. To date, she has received only good reviews from satisfied clients.
As far as Osborne is concerned, this Christmas house cleaning business is not merely a short-term endeavour; rather, it marks the beginning of something absolutely remarkable. She is resolute in her intention to improve and broaden the scope of her enterprise in the long run, and she intends to continue even after the Christmas season has passed.
Osborne’s dedication to not just giving outstanding service but also being ecologically mindful is admirable and deserves praise. She said that she is intent on introducing environmentally responsible and sustainable business methods into her company. Through the utilisation of cleaning solutions that are both non-toxic and biodegradable, as well as by maintaining a level of awareness regarding sustainable practices within the industry, she intends to establish a more sustainable and healthier environment for her customers.
It is not only about cleaning houses for Colleen Osborne’s Christmas Cleaning Services this holiday season. In fact, it is about providing happiness, satisfaction and calm to each customer.
Osborne is a living example of the power that can be harnessed through trust, prayer, and perseverance. She is guided by her firm belief in Christ, has a strong work ethic, and has seen an unbelievable amount of support from her community. Depending on her favourite scripture (Isaiah 60:22) which says, “When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen,” Osborne believes that great things are in store for her and her business and will happen at the right time.
When she’s not busy in the homes of clients, the single mother spends time caring for her three children. She described them thus: “Malachi age 11 years old, Mariah age eight years old, and the most energetic, sweet, smart and bubbly two-year-old you could ever find, Makayla.”
